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Employers ‘failing to grant leave for antenatal appointments’

Employers are making it difficult for women and their
partners to take time off work to attend midwife appointments, research
suggests.

A survey of 300 UK women who have given birth in the past
five years found 28% said their partner was unable to attend midwife
appointments because of their workplaces not granting the necessary time off.

A further 25% said their partner was unable to be
involved in the pregnancy as much as they wished.

Private midwifery services Private Midwives, which
commissioned the poll, warned this can impact on partners’ mental health
because they lose the opportunity to gain reassurance, support and advice in
advance of the labour.

One in 10 women said that their employer seemed to be
uncomfortable with the number of midwife appointments they needed to attend.

Legislation states that pregnant employees are entitled
to reasonable, paid time off for antenatal care. Fathers, partners and civil
partners of pregnant women are entitled to unpaid time off during their working
hours to attend up to two antenatal appointments.

Employers who refuse to grant time off could be taken to
an employment tribunal.

Linda Bryceland, head of midwifery at Private Midwives,
said: “It’s heart-breaking that employers are making it difficult for partners
to be involved in this special time, despite legislation being implemented by government
to prevent this happening.”